This pumpkin-shaped box is moulded with lobes and has an indented cover with a short stem in the middle. It is a typical southern ware with a high-fired body of hard white porcelain, and a transparent glaze with bluish tinge known as 'Qingbai', which derives its name from the characteristic icy, bluish-white glaze. Potters describe this as "white celadon" because of the close bond between the body and glaze. Moulded wares were made in quantity in the 13th century. They were thought to have been made to supply the domestic markets as well as export trade. This box was used as a cosmetic box. Similar boxes have also been found buried in graves in Indonesia and Philippines.Copies of similarly shaped boxes were made in the neighbouring province of Fujian, at Dehua, Anxi and Nanan.
